Media releases

Lake Borumba to remain closed to skiing for Easter, open for boating, fishing and paddling

Posted

23 March 2016

New test results show blue-green algae levels remain too high to allow Lake Borumba to be re-opened to water and jet skiing for the Easter holiday weekend.

However, Lake Borumba does remain open to boating, fishing and paddling.

Seqwater’s latest water quality results show that algal and toxin levels have not dropped to a level to allow water skiing and jet skiing to resume, as this activity involves primary contact with the water.

Seqwater Chief Executive Officer Peter Dennis said Seqwater was conscious of the impact of water-based recreation closures on local businesses and the surrounding community particularly in the lead up to holiday periods.

“We were hoping the water quality results would start to show an improvement in the algal and toxin levels but unfortunately our latest results show levels remain elevated.

“We cannot open the lake to skiing until these levels drop. The health and safety of visitors is our key priority.

“There are a number of health conditions that can result from exposure to blue-green algal blooms with symptoms including abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, rashes, swelling, sores, irritation, earache, eye irritation, cough and congestion.”

Seqwater will continue to fast track testing and will re-open the lake to skiing as soon as it is safe to do so.

Seqwater considers the National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines for Recreation Management and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection blue-green algae guidelines in determining whether to restrict access to water-based activities due to high algal levels.

The Seqwater website (www.seqwater.com.au) and Facebook and Twitter pages will be updated as conditions change at Lake Borumba.

Visitors are asked to observe signage in place at Lake Borumba and follow the direction of staff.